Organic certification

Organic certification

Organic products range from fresh fruits and vegetables straight from the farm to wines and cheeses aged over several years. Sales channels are equally diverse, including:

local organic markets

organic shops in rural or urban areas

roadside stalls in the countryside

direct sales at the farm where the food was produced

online ordering of organic boxes delivered to the door or to collection points

supermarkets: many are now expanding and developing their organic product ranges

restaurants, canteens and catering firms: a growing sector including school meals, public and private-sector canteens and cafeterias in some high-profile companies

Consumer confidence

Wherever today's consumers choose to buy or eat organic products, they should be able to have confidence that these comply with strict EU rules. Products that do not meet these standards may not be referred to as organic or bear the EU's organic logo or a national equivalent.

Control

Organic farmers, processors and traders, must comply with strict EU requirements if they want to use the EU organic logo or label their products as organic.

The EU requires an equally strict control system with checks carried out at every stage of the organic chain. Every operator (farmer, processor, trader, importer or exporter) is checked at least once a year, or more often on the basis of risk assessment.

So whenever you buy organic food, you can be confident that it has been produced in accordance with strict environmental and animal welfare rules and checked accordingly.

Labelling of organic produce

As well as the standard list of ingredients and nutritional value figures, organic product labels should bear the name of the producer, processor or distributor who last handled the item. The code number of the national certification authority should also be on the label. Moreover the Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers gives the minimum requirements on nutrition.